What are the Signs of a Broken Sewer Pipe?

Sewer lines are an essential component of your plumbing system, as each drain in your home leads to the sewer line. Lying anywhere from one-to-ten feet below ground, our sewer lines take all wastewater generated by your home and place it into the city sewer system, or to a septic tank. If it weren’t for the work of your sewer pipes,

Signs Of A Broken Sewer Pipe

Slow Drains:

 Showers, tubs, and other drains that take longer than usual to empty could be a sign of a broken sewer line. If other drains in the home are also emptying slowly, it increases the likelihood of a broken sewer pipe. When the slow drainage is limited to one sink or shower drain, you can probably resolve the problem by clearing debris from the drain by removing the drain cover and pulling out any visible hair and any other residue.

Foundation Cracks:

 Most homes constructed today are built on top of concrete slabs, through which various plumbing and sewer lines must pass. Supply pipe leaks that are under high pressure will be much easier to detect, whereas leaks from a broken sewer line can be more of a challenge to find. Because sewer pipes are not pressurized to increase their flow, any sewage leaks occur and spread more slowly. Often, it isn’t until the leaks cause the soil to shift, leading to cracks in your foundation.

Bad Smells:

 Broken or clogged sewer lines are often the cause of some of the most horrible smells to enter your home. The reason is simple, raw sewage stinks, and when it is unable to flow away from your home because of clogs, or a broken sewer pipe that deposits the waste in your yard, it becomes a problem fast.

Soggy Yards:

 Another sign of a broken sewer pipe is any damp or waterlogged areas of your lawn located above your sewer line. Sections of your lawn adjacent to sewer lines that are greener and lusher than the rest of the yard should be investigated as well. Don’t be fooled by the perceived beauty of that strong grass, as it only looks that good thanks to the fertilization from your raw sewage. Yuck.

No one wakes up in the morning and thinks, “today is a great day to fix a broken sewer line.” Depending on the extent of damage to the sewer pipe, and the amount of excavation required to fix it, sewer line repair is one of the most expensive and inconvenient plumbing jobs. Being aware of some of the common signs of a broken sewer pipe ahead of time, and keeping an eye out for them will help keep you from an expensive surprise from your plumbing system.

Think you have a leaking or broken sewer line, give the professionals at Nick’s Plumbing and Air Conditioning Services a call. We offer cost evaluations and second opinions on any sewer pipe repair, sewer line replacement, or any of our other five-star rated plumbing services.

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